Why
& Ta b b e r s o n A r c h i t e c t s ?
The Colorado Timberframe and Tabberson Architects Advantage We know you have choices for where to get your timberframe packages when it comes to building your dream home. While there are several companies out there who can get you quality timbers, joints, and pegs, few have the advantage of being in the high, dry climate of Colorado where wood can be properly prepared to minimize the chances of it checking (cracking), warping, or moving as your house ages. We also have the versatility of working with any type of wood that you choose. With Colorado Timberframe, you not only have a provider who uses industry best practices, but also offers a wide variety of options.
In addition to getting the right materials, you want the right team to make your construction journey as smooth and pleasant as possible. Since its inception, Colorado Timberframe has sought to partner with not only the best in the field as far as expertise, but also those who know how to keep our clients’ interests at the forefront of everything we do. From realtors to subcontractors to carpenters, Colorado Timberframe can provide you with the right team every step of the way. -Let us help create the home of your dreams!
site design planning:
preliminary design:
The architect and client meet to discuss and outline sthei tclient’s e d eexpectations, s i g n p lneeds, a n n and i n gconstruction budget. This is when your dreams and ideas are first discussed. The building site for timberframes is very special. The orientation of the structure and spaces are carefully considered with respect to the lay of the land. Our goal is to maximize the aesthetic value of your unique property, and minimize the energy and resources consumption of your home.
The architectural designer will present rough sketches of floor plans, site plans, and exterior elevation studies for the client’s review and approval. A 3D or physical model of the design is also often utilized. The time needed to work through this phase depends on the complexity of the proposed design. The goal here is for the client to fully understand the proposed design and to participate in making any alterations to the home’s concept.
collaboration: When working with us, we can collaborate together to expedite the design and building process. Without that collaboration, you have to finish the design process first before moving to the building process. By working together at the start of your project, we can integrate fabrication methods with the design in order to reduce costs and avoid unseen errors during the construction phase.
Ancient Craftsmanship Meets Computer Precision: Colorado Timberframe cuts old-school, timeproven designs for joints and connections—called “mortise and tenon”—with modern, computercontrolled precision. Mortise and tenon joints are wood-on-wood and are held together with wooden pegs—no nails, no steel involved. We do this with the Hundegger CNC (computer numerical control) machine, which can handle woods of all kinds as well as self-insulated panels (SIPs). Using a CNC saw reduces costs and increases efficiency, precision, and the quality of our joints. This makes timberframe soundness and elegance more accessible to a broader range of homeowners. We can provide you with both versatility of design as well as a wide variety of choices in the type of wood you would like to use for your home.
construction phase: When you are ready for the frame to go up, we will send a supervisor and team to help in assembling it. Because of the precision cutting on our computer numerical control (CNC) machine, we have found that the time needed for actual construction is less than with conventional building.
Douglas Fir is the primary wood we use for Colorado Timberframe homes. The reason is that it tends to be the straightest, strongest, most stable wood in the world. It is also readily accessible and responsibly harvested in forests throughout the northwest and Canada. It tends to have the least amount of “checking” (cracking), the least amount of movement, and is the least likely to twist or warp. Particularly for dry climates such as Colorado, and for many of the western states, Douglas Fir is the first choice for building a timberframe home. Because of this, we keep a constant stock of beautiful Douglas Fir timbers drying in our yards outside of Denver, Colorado. We can cut any species of wood with our CNC machines, so there are many options for what woods you can use.
complete package: Taking our timberframe package, then adding the exterior efficiency of SIPs, you would have our complete, weather-tight shell package. By selecting high-quality, high-efficiency doors and windows with the proper R-values, and then placing them strategically on the correct sides of the home to collect passive solar energy, you create a home that is energy efficient.
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P r o p e r P r e p a r a t i o n , T i m e -Te s t e d P r a c t i c e s : Some companies cut their wood “green,” meaning that it comes fresh from the forest to the sawmill. These green timbers tend to have a lot of moisture in them—often over 40%. As they dry, this can cause checking, twisting, and warping, all of which affects the stability and beauty of the overall structure. Some prefer this, as it allows the wooden joints to dry and move together as the home ages. We can provide green timbers for those who desire them. There are primarily three ways of drying wood: At Colorado Timberframe, we have a yard in the high, dry Colorado climate where we air-dry our timbers before they are cut. It is an option unique to our location and climate, and therefore is an advantage that very few timberframe companies have available to them. While we keep a ready supply of Douglas
erecting the frame: Once you have your blueprints approved and your building team assembled, construction will begin. When you are ready for the frame to go up, we will send a supervisor and team to help assemble it.
Fir here, if we have the time, we can also air-dry any other type of wood here as well. Another alternate for drying logs before they are cut is using a conventional kiln that takes somewhere around ninety days to slowly bake timbers dry. However, this method tends to only evaporate the water about an inch into the surface of the wood and over time, can cause checking, shifting, and twisting that we mentioned before. Another method is to use radio-frequency kilns to dry the wood. These logs are commonly referred as RFKD (radio-frequency kiln-dried) timbers. While Colorado Timberframe does offer this as a service in cases where time is of the essence, it is much more expensive and can make their fibers respond in unexpected ways.
Recycling Can Be Beautiful: In the market right now, there is a growing demand for using timbers reclaimed from old buildings such as churches, barns, factories, schoolhouses, and the like to be used in the new construction of timberframe homes. We are finding that clients are really excited about repurposing materials because it is both environmentally conscious while also giving your home a unique story. While we are working more and more with reclaiming wood from older structures that are being disassembled, the timing and availability of reclaimed wood varies greatly. If this is your preference, be sure to contact us early in your design process, especially if you are looking for a specific species of wood.
finishing touches: Adding those custom elements that make your home your special place. This process will continue until the final items on your punch list are completed and the home is yours to live in for years to come. All of the little details you want addressed before final payment is made.
not so big house: The idea of a not so big house favors the quality of its space over the quantity and one that emphasizes a high level of detail. The floor plan is inspired by our informal lifestyles by infusing the space with soul and character. Each home is customized for your family working from the efficiency of our modular planning system.
the right place & placement: Most timberframe homes start with a homeowner who either wants a timberframe home or has found a site that is perfect for one. We can walk your property with you to determine the best position of your future home, or even help you find the right lot if you don’t already have one.
it’s all in the details: While we are primarily a provider of the timbers and materials that create the outer enclosing envelope of your home, we’ve found our experience and expertise to be helpful every step along the way. Whether you are considering a timberframe home or have your conceptual drawings completed, we can answer your questions, make recommendations, or simply get the job done.
Indoor and Outdoor: “Layering,” in which a series of openings and surfaces break the perceived space into segments. When sliding doors open out to a veranda that flows down to a series of terraces beyond. You find at least one “away room,” such as a cozy gazebo that provides sanctuary. A landscape with a carefully designed journey is one that integrates the inside flow to the outside and vice versa. Whether meandering or straight, a well designed path links different places, events, and activities to each other.
a worry-free process: Project administration involves monitoring work in progress, approving contractor shop drawings, and coordinating specialty consultants. In general, the architect acts as your agent during the construction phase. We work hard to make sure your home is built with everything that was planned and the quality and craftsmanship of each building trade meets your expectations.
Get started today: phone: 303.444.5012 | fax: 303.444.5022 1005 South 120th St. | Lafayette, CO 80026 www.coloradotimberframe.com
cell: 317.371.3692 | fax: 765.289.7889 2900 W. Torquay Rd. | Muncie, IN 47304 www.tabbersonarchitects.com
Planning is the most important phase in building your home. It consists of design, site planning, construction scheduling, financing, and budget. The planning and design of your home relates directly to the finished cost and it is critical to establish your budget alongside your design. This is why we spend a great deal of time and attention to the planning of your home. We are there to assist and advise you on all the necessary considerations throughout the planning steps to make the home a success, which has to be measured both in terms of the ultimate design and cost.